Leadenhall Street, tells us, "at the north-west corner of this ward, in the said high street, standeth the fair and beautiful parish church of St. Andrew the Apostle, with an addition, to be known from other churches of that name, of the knape or undershaft, and so called St. Andrew Undershaft, because that of old time every year-on May-day in the morning-it was used that an high or long shaft, or Maypole, was set up there in the midst of the street before the south door of the said church. Which shaft, when it was set on end, and fixed in the ground, was higher than the church-steeple. This shaft was not raised since Evil May-day-so called of an insurrection made by prentices and other young persons against aliens in the year 1517-but the said shaft was laid along over the doors, and under the pentises of one row of houses, and Alley Gate, called after the shaft, SHAFT ALLEY. It was there I say hanged, on iron hooks, many years till the third of King Edward VI., that one Sir Stephen, curate of St. Katharine, Christ Church, preaching at Paul's Cross, said there that this shaft was made an idol, by naming the church of St. Andrew with the addition of under that shaft; he persuaded, therefore, that the names of churches might be altered; also that the names of days in the week might be changed, the fish-days to be kept any days except Fridays and Saturdays; and the Lent, any time save only betwixt Shrovetide and Easter. I have oft times seen this man, forsaking the pulpit of his said parish church, preach out of a high elm-tree in the midst of the churchyard; and then entering the church, forsaking the altar, to have sung his high mass in English upon a tomb of the dead towards the north. I heard his sermon at Paul's Cross, and I saw the effect that followed; for in the afternoon of that present Sunday, the neighbours and tenants of the

said bridge,* over whose doors the said shaft had lain, after they had dined, to make themselves strong, gathered more help, and with great labour raising the shaft from the hooks, (wherein it had rested two and thirty years), they sawed it in pieces, every man taking for his share so much as had lain over his door and stall, the length of his house; and they of the Alley divided amongst them so much as had laid over their alley gate. Thus was this idol-as he, poor man, termed it-mangled, and after burned." +

Little Drury also was, at one time, celebrated for its May-pole. It stood at the north end, and was erected by John Clarges, a smith and farrier in the Savoy, to commemorate his daughter's good fortune in having married General Monk, at a time when he was only a private gentleman, and thus after the restoration becoming Duchess of Albemarle. These curious particulars respecting the family would, in all probability, have been forgotten, with many better things, but for a dispute among themselves, which brought every thing out in a court of justice, and left it upon the record. A correspondent in the Gentleman's Magazine, gives the following account of it. "I have in my possession minutes of a trial upon an action of trespass between William Sherwin, plaintiff, and Sir Walter Clarges, Bart., and others, defendants, at the King's Bench Bar, at Westminster, 15th November, 1700. The plaintiff, as heir and representative of Thomas Monk, Esq., elder brother of George, Duke of Albemarle, claimed the manor of Sutton, in co. York, and other lands in Newton, Eaton Bridge, and Shipton, as heir-at

* That is of Rochester Bridge, of which, he had before said, it was a possession.

+ Stow's London, by Strype, vol. i. book ii. p. 65.

Gentleman's Magazine for January 1792, vol. lxii. p. 18.

law to the said duke, against the defendant, devisee under the will of Duke Christopher, his only child, who died in 1689; S.P." (i.e. sine prole, without offspring.) "Upon this trial some very curious particulars came out, respecting the family of Anne, wife of George, created Duke of Albemarle. It appeared that she was daughter of John Clarges, a farrier in the Savoy, and farrier to Colonel Monk. In 1632, she was married in the church of St. Laurence Pountney, to Thomas Ratford, son of Thomas Ratford, late a farrier, servant to Prince Charles, and resident in the Mews. She had a daughter, who was born in 1634, and died in 1638. Her husband and she lived at the Three Spanish Gipsies, in the New Exchange, and sold wash-balls, powder, gloves, and such things, and she taught girls plain work. About 1647, she being a sempstress to Colonel Monk, used to carry him linen. In 1648 her father and mother died. In 1649 she and her husband fell out and parted. But no certificate from any parish register appears reciting his burial. In 1652 she was married in the church of St. George, Southwark, to General George Monk, and in the following year was delivered of a son, Christopher, (afterwards the second and last Duke of Albemarle above mentioned), who was suckled by Honours Mills, who sold apples, herbs, oisters, &c. One of the plaintiff's witnesses swore that a little before the sickness,' (i.e., the plague), 'Thomas Ratford demanded and received of him the sum of twenty shillings, that his wife saw Ratford again after the sickness, and a second time after the duke and duchess were dead.' A woman swore that she saw him the day his wife, then called Duchess of Albemarle, was put into her coffin, which was after the death of the duke,' her second husband, who died 3rd January, 1669-70. And a third witness swore that he saw Ratford about July, 1660. In

6

opposition to this evidence it was alleged that 'all along during the lives of Duke George and Duke Christopher this matter was never questioned-' that the latter was universally received as only son of the former-and that 'this matter had been thrice before tried at the bar of the King's Bench, and the defendant had had three verdicts.' A witness swore that he owed Ratford five or six pounds, which he had never demanded. And a man, who bad married a cousin of the Duke of Albemarle, had been told by his wife that Ratford died five or six years before the duke married.' Lord Chief Justice Holt told the jury, if you are certain that Duke Christopher was born while Thomas Ratford was living, you must find for the plaintiff. If you believe he was born after Ratford was dead, or that nothing appears what became of him after Duke George married his wife, you must find for the defendant.' A verdict was given for the defendant, who was only son to Sir Thomas Clarges, Knt., brother to the illustrious duchess in question, was created a baronet, October 30th, 1674, and was ancestor to the baronets of his name."*

Another celebrated May-pole was erected in the Strand, near Catharine Street, which was first raised in 1661, to celebrate the restoration of Charles II. The writer of an old pamphlet, published at the time, thus describes it: "Let me declare to you the manner in generall of that stately cedar erected in the Strand, 134 feet high, commonly called the May-pole, upon the cost of the parishners there adjacent, and the gracious consent of his Sacred Majesty, with the illustrious prince, the Duke of York.

"This tree was a most choice and remarkable piece; 'twas made below bridge, and brought in two parts up to Scotland Yard, near the king's palace, and from thence

*

Gentleman's Magazine for October, 1793, vol. lxiii. p. 886.

it was conveyed, April the 14th, to the Strand, to be

erected.

"It was brought with a streamer flourishing before it, drums beating all the way, and other sorts of music; it was supposed to be so long that landmen (as carpenters) could not possibly raise it; Prince James, the Duke of York, Lord High Admirall of England, commanded twelve seainen off aboord to come and officiate the business, whereupon they came and brought their cables, pullies, and other tacklins, with six great anchors; after this was brought three crowns, bore by three men bare-headed, and a streamer displaying all the way before them, drums beating, and other musick playing; numerous multitudes of people thronging the streets, with great shouts and acclamations all day long.

"The Maypole then being joyned together, and hoopt about with bands of iron, the crown and vane with the king's armes richly gilded was placed on the end of it. This being done, the trumpets did sound, and in four hours' space it was advanced upright, after which being established fast in the ground, six drums did beat, and the trumpets did sound again, great shouts and acclamations the people gave, that it did ring throughout all the whole Strand; after that came a Morice dance, finely deckt with purple scarfs in their half shirts, with a taber and pipe, the ancient musick, and danced round about the Maypole; after that, danced the rounds of their liberty. Upon the top of this famous standard is likewise set up a royal purple streamer; about the middle of it is placed four crowns more, with the king's arms likewise; there is also a garland set upon it, of various colours, of delicate rich favours, under which is to be placed three great lanthorns, to remain for three honours; that is, one for Prince James, Duke of York, Lord High Admirall of